Starting yarn dying

Today has been a learning day, I’ve channelled my inner science teacher, making 1% acid dye solutions & dying yarn. It was so much fun. I like that slow cooker much better now it’s been repurposed for yarn dying.

Hopefully the red & blue yarn will soon be done & they can join the others.

I’m hoping this might make me another sales line, it’s a bit different from the embroidery, quilts. It’s certainly easier on the fingers, although they are slightly multicoloured now ( yes I did wear gloves). What do you think?

Silk scarf painting

Today I’m silk painting, Luna got bored & decided to go to bed.

Cygnets

Yesterday was embroidery day at Hampton Court Place, on my lunch break I found these beautiful swans & their cygnets, 8 in total.

I also stocked up on my gold thread, so I can keep busy over the summer.

Flying colours quilt

I made this quilt from a packet of charm squares I brought ages a go, simply because I liked them. I thought they were a bit different. I’m proud to say no new fabric or wadding was purchased.

Primula & chrysanthemum quilt

I’ve finally taken the plunge & opened an online shop with Folksy, called the Sunshine Stitchery studio. I’ve had lots of self doubt, is my work good enough, will anyone want it, all that sort of thing….. and this week I did it.

I got my self some rather snazzy quilt labels & renamed the quilt I made a while ago. I think it’s going to be a very steep learning curve. Like everything I guess perseverance will be required.

Mounting Luna for assessment

Pinning the embroidery to the mount board

It’s hard work pulling the fabric taught & pinning it to the mounting board, especially when you can’t seem to get it completely straight & no puckers around the embroidery

One last push to finish Luna

Silk shading of Luna with source photo

Finished the ear turn backs today, I need to tinker about with the shading under her chin. I need my tutor to check it on Friday & hope we can start to add her whiskers

The white quilt is finished

Finished & in place

The white quilt survived the wash, but due to my washing machine being ‘intelligent’ it weighs what’s in it & adjusts the amount of water it uses. Normally that’s great, but not if you’re trying to wash out the blue preprinted lines, they are still very faintly there, it really needs another wash. It can wait until the better weather.

This is the kit I used, it was really easy to do. You needed wadding , backing & quilting thread too. It’s just small running stitch & it looks stunning, I used a dark variegated purple thread, for a good contrast.

Finally, I’ve finished icing the Christmas cake, I still have a few bits to make as GF cakes don’t seem to keep that well.

Luna is waiting for Father Christmas.

Luna & I wish everyone a very happy Christmas.

Hare kitchen cupboard door

One of my kitchen cupboard doors had gone all wrinkly, having nothing to loose, I pulled off the offending inner panel, painted it dark grey ( it took several coats) , stencilled these lovely hares in copper, followed up by several layers on Matt varnish.

It’s been returned to the kitchen & it looks fantastic.

Stairs

I’ve been decorating again this week, the stairs are finished, they were hard work 😓. Luna seems to think they have changed height & is not sure about them. I’ve put a non slip mat at the bottom for her, so she doesn’t hurt her back. Flooring to finish. I think we might be almost done with this phase of decorating. Why are you always left with a couple of baskets of detritus, too good/ useful/ needed ; but with no home 🤔.